2019: Alonzo Highsmith, the former No. 3 overall draft pick who is a right-hand man to GM John Dorsey, says 2018 No. 35 overall pick Nick Chubb reminds him of Lewis. The Lewis who arrived in Cleveland, though, had one good year left. Chubb is just getting started. Kareem Hunt has struck up a friendship with Chubb that should factor into an era-bending synergy after the leaves fall.

2019: Ego got in Edwards' way, and he left the league with a modest 5,522 receiving yards (four teams). Odell Beckham arrives with 5,476 yards and conceivably his best years ahead. Jarvis Landry (5,014 yards) has been more consistent than anyone on the "best of era" list and could hit his own new heights.

2019: David Njoku boasts the size, agility and now experience to blow by Heiden (average talent) and Winslow (long story). Njoku's jump from 32 catches as a rookie to 56 in 2018 suggests that, at 23, he could thrive if he gets his mind right.

CENTER

Best of era: Alex Mack (149 career starts, 101 with Browns). 2, Dave Wohlabaugh (ex-Patriot started first four years of expansion era). 3, Jeff Faine (Round 1 pick who lasted NFL seasons). 4, Hank Fraley (grinder who hung out with tailgaters after games from 2006-08). 5, Cam Erving (ex-Round 1 pick was the primary center in 2016).

2019: This mostly has been a winning position in a losing era. Current job holder JC Tretter fits between Faine and Fraley.

RIGHT TACKLE

Best of era: 1, Mitchell Schwartz (never missed a down with Browns from 2012-15 or with Chiefs ever since). 2, Ryan Tucker (tough guy started 71 Browns games from 2002-08). 3, Orlando Brown ("Zeus" took a flag in the eye from referee Jeff Triplette late in '99, an eerie era omen). 4, Kevin Shaffer (moved from left tackle in 2007, started every game for 10-6 team). 5, John St. Clair (started in 2009 and 10).

2019: Ex-Steeler Chris Hubbard's first year with the Browns (2018) did not suggest he can get much past the Shaffer line.

2019: Greg Robinson was a Rams bust as a No. 2 overall draft pick, but the 2018 Browns were 5-3 with him starting last year.

GUARDS

Best of era: 1, Eric Steinbach (after four years with Bengals, started all but two games from 2007-10). 2, Kevin Zeitler (latter-day Steinbach jumped from Cincinnati in 2016, traded to Giants in March). 3, John Greco (11-year pro, including 2011-16 in Cleveland). 4, Joe Andruzzi (started for Belichick's first three Super Bowl winners, spent his last two seasons in Cleveland). 5, Shawn Lauvao (spent 2010-13 with Browns then made nice living in Washington for five years).

2019: Current left guard Joel Bitonio is of comparable quality to Steinbach. Right guard has been a summer trouble spot and two trades in recent days have been made to help shore it up.

2019: Sheldon Richardson, whose college scouting profile was similar to Warren's, seems serious about having a career year. Larry Ogunjobi was drafted higher than Roye and Rubin and could become a long-timer of that ilk.

LINEBACKERS

Best of era: 1, D'Qwell Jackson (started 96 games for Browns and 44 for Colts from 2006-16). 2, Jamir Miller (lasted three years before blowing out an Achilles, making 13 sacks in 2001). 3, Karlos Dansby (very good pro who still had some juice when he played for Browns from 2014-15). 4, Willie McGinest (played 12 years for Patriots before three decent seasons in Cleveland). 5, Andra Davis (gave Browns 105 games from 2002-08).

2019: On their best of days with the Browns, Jackson, Miller, Dansby and McGinest all were superior to what Christian Kirksey and Joe Schobert have been to the Browns thus far. Kirksey, 27 (as of Aug. 31) and Schobert, going on 26, are more along the lines of Davis, with the hope they can thrive behind the newly stacked D-line. The era has included a large collection of linebackers who built reputations elsewhere (Dwayne Rudd, Earl Holmes, Scott Fujita, Eric Barton and Jamie Collins, etc.). Home-grown guys, including 2018 Round 5 pick Genard Avery, are the focus now.

CORNERBACKS

Best of era: 1, Joe Haden (gave Browns 90 games and two Pro Bowls from 2010-16). 2, Daylon McCutcheon (played 103 games from 1999-2005). 3, Corey Fuller (ringleader on 2001 team that beat defending Super Bowl champ Baltimore twice). 4, Anthony Henry (led league with 10 interceptions as 2001 rookie, left for big money in Dallas in '05). 5, Sheldon Brown (fixture in Philadelphia before giving Browns three decent years, 2010-12).

Best of era: 1, T.J. Ward (was a Brown from 2010-13 before starting for Denver in Super Bowl 50). 2, Robert Griffith (spent 2002-04 in Cleveland during a 195-game career). 3, Mike Adams ("Pops" was 30 during the last of his five Cleveland seasons and has played 108 games since leaving). 4, Donte Whitner (important leader behind 2014 team's 7-4 start). 5, Brodney Pool (Round 2 pick, five-year Brown who seldom left field during 10-6 season in 2007).

2019: Damarious Randall was a No. 30 overall pick in 2015 by the Packers. He looked the part in his first year with the Browns. Morgan Burnett, Eric Murray, Jermaine Whitehead and Sheldrick Redwine are a cross-section of Dorsey imports.

KICKER

Best of era: 1, Phil Dawson (took the reins for 14 years starting in 1999). 2, Billy Cundiff (took over for Dawson in 2013). 3, Travis Coons (took over for Cundiff in 2015). 4, Cody Parkey (took over for Coons in 2016). 5, Zane Gonzalez (took over for Parkey in 2017).

2019: Rookie Round 5 pick Austin Seibert came around late in the preseason and gets a chance to prove he can be the best of the post-Dawson foot soldiers.

PUNTER

Best of era: 1, Chris Gardocki (at least the team had a good punter in the early expansion years). 2, Dave Zastudil (took reins from Gardocki and lasted five years). 3, Andy Lee (46.7-yard gross in 2016, his only year with Browns). 4, Spencer Lanning (surprising his leg didn't fall off from his 187 punts from 2013-14). 5, Reggie Hodges (nice find in 2010 before he blew out an Achilles).

2019: After exceeding 40 yards in net (average after return) in first two Browns seasons, Britton Colquitt dipped to 38.2 in 2018. "The Scottish Hammer," Jamie Gillan, intrigued Dorsey and won the job in camp.

RETURN MAN

Best of the era: Josh Cribbs (a major force in his prime). Travis Benjamin (returned a punt for a TD in 2012, 2013 and 2015). 3, Dennis Northcutt (returned two punts for TDs to help Browns win '02 wild card spot). 4, Andre Davis (95-yard kick return won a key game in '02 playoff year). 5, Ben Gay (long live "The Legend").

2019: The name in September might not be the same as the name in October.

Reach Steve at 330-580-8347 or steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @sdoerschukREP

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